‘Iron Hand’ Langley and Coalbrook House

(Dr. Willie Nolan)

Coalbrook house situated outside Ballysloe was once the home of the Langley family.  The house has been owned by the Cantwell family from the early years of the last century.  The first member of the Langley family to live in the area was Henry Charles Langley. Born in 1618, he was son of Maria Edge and Deodatus Langley of Prestwich, England.  Henry was a lieutenant in Colonel Hierom Sankey's regiment which came to Ireland with Cromwell's army in 1659.  During the siege of Clonmel he lost an arm and this was later replaced with an iron arm or hand, hence the nickname 'Iron Hand' Langley.  The original of the replacement limb is in the possession of some of his descendants in Britain.  As a soldier in Cromwell's army he received lands in the Barony of Slieveardagh.  

 The first written reference to him is contained in the book of ‘Survey and Distribution’ which dates to the 1700s, this shows Henry Langley owning land in the parish of Ballingarry.  He owned 144 acres in Killihine and 817 acres in Lisnabrook ( Lisnamrock ) where a branch of the family resided.  Henry had two sons, Charles who was heir to Lisnamrock and Coalbrook and John who was in Ballynonty.  Henry Langley died in 1667.  The family made a living from their estate and they were also involved in the local mines.  

 Although not the first house the Langley family lived in the area Coalbrook House is the main residence associated with the family in later years.  The present house is two storey over basement but interestingly, when originally built it was three storey over basement!  The house was built in the 1800s in the Georgian style and redecorated during the 1900s.  The house and lands were sold by public auction in 1918.  The house contains two reception rooms, breakfast room and servants quarters among others.  The Langley family travelled extensively and the house was not in use all of the time.

 The following anonymous poem commemorates Henry ('Iron Hand Langley')

 Langley of the 'Iron Hand'
When Erin before Cromwell fell,

A man of whom I’ll tell you,
As they advanced to storm Clonmel,

Was foremost in the melee.

Charles Langley hight a man of power,
of all the troops the best,

for when they stormed the Western tower,

He stormed the rest.

A mower standing in the breach,
with scythe to guard the pass,
His hand cut off as if to teach,
That flesh is still but grass.

But yet a gallant warriors boast, .
Might to his wounds bring balm,

For though his hand the hero lost,
He bore away the palm.

He could aver that in the fray,
Where balls and bullets fly ,

He had on that eventful day,
A finger in the pie.

And what a wonderous change took place,
When of his limb bereft !

He found what thinking oe'r his case,
His right hand was his left.

...

The furious foe in joyous glee ,
The bleeding hero scanned,

And bade him then in irony,
To get an iron hand.

But Langley with his sabre bright,
Struck at the boasting clown,

To crown the labours of his fight,
He Cut him through the crown.

His iron hand henceforth he wore,
His various works to settle,

Just proving then just as .before ,
Himself a man of mettle.